Milan a



M. A. ELLIS.

CURRENT WATER MOTOR MACHINE. A

APPucATIoN FILED APR. 22. 191s.

1,304,284. Patented May 20,1919.-

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/72 vena?? N KN /f/an dE/S. a 2%? wwfam M. A'. ELLIS. CURRENT WATER MDTOR MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, '1918.

Patented May 20, 1919.

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320 ma C/Ujy I UNITED STATES PATENT onniorz.

` CURRENT-WATER-MOTOR MACHINE.

Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed April 22, 1918. Serial No. 229,980.

To all whom t may concem:

Be it known that I, MILAN A. ELLIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Current-lVater-Motor Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in current-water-motors operated by means of the ordinary current of a stream when the device is submerged in a stream of water.

The objects of my invention are:

First Io provide means of utilizing the full power of the current of an ordinary stream of water and transmitting it for commercial purposes.

Second To provide the largest impact surface appliable to the unaccelerated current, with the least obstruction to the natural flow or course of the stream..

Third z-Toprovide means of applying the full volume and unobstructed force of the water current to 'a larger mechanical surface whereby power may be harnessed, accelerated and transmitted by mechanical means to commercial purposes.

Fourth z-To provide means of accelerating the passage of the current of an ordinary stream of water through and away from the spiral surfaces upon which it has acted.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a current straightener.

Fig. 3 is a downstream vertical end view showing the down stream ends and curves of the spiral blades land the current straighteners with attachments mounted, also disclosing the gear devices in position.

Fig. 4 is a view of the upstream end of the spiral blades with gear wheel attached, dismounted.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The perpendicular columns 1, cross-bars 1, 1, ld and 1e; cross beams 1f, and longitudinal bars 1b, constitute the superstructure, in which revolubly mounted on cross beams 1f in the bearing members 3 is a shaft 2, on which is secured a gear wheel A 6-having radiating curved spokes 10 at one end and corresponding radiating curved spokes 4, at the other end, on which spokes at each end within the circumference of the geared rim are secured .spiral curved blades 5, of uniform width, the curve and pitch of each blade such that one continuous and independent line of impact of current strikes against each blade for its full length and width at all times. The number, length and curve of each blade is such as to catch and retain a continuous impact of current on its concave surface until the current in proceeding downstream escapes the blade at its rear or downstream end, and loses its efficiency. at the same time the next blade intercepts the same line of independent oncoming current entering at the upstream end, but the several blades are Vso closely arranged that a direct passage of water between the blades is impossible and a revoluble movement of the shaft 2 is effected, the power being taken off by means of pinion 7, mounted on shaft 8, operating in conjunction with the cogs of gear wheel 6.

In order to prevent the current from being eddied and retarded `and swirled to their convex sides when the current is broken at the down-stream end of spiral-curved blades 5, by their revolutions and to facilitate the uninterrupted passage of the current through them, I provide my invention with a current straightening device, consisting of a number of sheets 12, each of a length corresponding tothe height of the superstructure and of a width, number and distance apart and of -a distance from spokes 4, necessary to accomplish the desired result; all of which sheets are suspended edgewise by their narrower ends, paralleling the longitudinal direction of shaft 2, upon crossbars 15,` and 1d, by journal means 13, suspended free and operating upon rods 14.

I claim:

A current-water-motor machine comprising a superstructure supporting a rotatable shaft having curved spoke wheels at each end having spokes of equal length adapted to a common curve, a set of spiral curved blades of, even width extending the length of said shaft secured to said spokes, the whole forming a water Wheel adapted to be submerged in the current of a running stream of water 'and' to be caused to rotate on said shaft thereby, and a current straightof the mechanism and to facilitate the downener constructed in the .downstreameend owzofithe Water. thereof consisting lor sheets hung .by-:their f ends edgevvise to the current upon `rods in proximity yto Said Wheelvinisuchmanner .es WVXltllesfses: l to prevent an eddy in the stream, a' return GEORGE' C. 'WEEK, of the Water into and between the blades ERICH KIEHR.

MILAN A." ELUS.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissiuner of Patents,

, Washington, 11.10. 

